Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts Resigns Amid Immigration Detention

Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, has resigned after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly residing and working in the United States illegally. Roberts, a native of Guyana and former Olympic runner, was arrested last week. His attorney, Alfredo Parrish, stated that Roberts believed his immigration case had been "resolved successfully" based on information from a previous attorney. Parrish's law firm has filed a request to stay Roberts' deportation and is working on a motion to reopen his immigration proceedings.

The Des Moines school board placed Roberts on unpaid leave on Monday and accepted his immediate resignation on Tuesday. Board Chair Jackie Norris commented, "It is a sad and troubling end for an individual who gave many people, especially our students, hope."

In response to the arrest, hundreds of high school students staged a walkout to protest both Roberts' detention and broader immigration enforcement actions. Roberts, 54, is currently held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, approximately 150 miles northwest of Des Moines.

Parrish described Roberts as a "tremendous advocate to this community" and an inspiration to students, noting that his spirits remain high despite the complex legal situation. Federal authorities are also investigating how Roberts obtained a handgun allegedly found in his district vehicle during the arrest, which could lead to criminal charges.

The office of U.S. Representative Zach Nunn released a redacted excerpt of Roberts' May 2024 removal order, indicating that Roberts was notified to appear at a removal hearing but failed to do so. An immigration judge subsequently ordered his deportation. Parrish confirmed Roberts' Guyanese origin but did not provide details on his citizenship status or the specifics of the prior removal proceedings.

The Des Moines school district stated it was unaware of the removal order until receiving a copy on Monday. Roberts had attested to being a U.S. citizen when hired in 2023, providing a Social Security card and driver's license as verification. Additionally, Roberts has been registered to vote in Maryland since at least 2017, though the Maryland Board of Elections indicated this registration may have been unintentional, with no voting history recorded.